AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1911, 17 February 1875, Page 3

AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM AUCKLAND.

A rumour was current about town on Wednesday last that three men had come overland from Auckland, walking the whole distance. On making inquiries we found that the statement was correct, and from Edward Charles Patrick Stanton, a discharged soldier of the 57th Regiment, and for some years a member of tie Armed Constabulary, we gather the following particulars :,—lt appears that the men were looking for wor£ in Auckland, and it having been intimated that at New Plymouth any amount could be obtained at good wages, the three men agreed to tramp it, carrying their swags on their shoulders. The party started, from Auckland at about 4 a.m. on the 2nd instant, and Stanton made Harris's Hotel at Ngaruawahia (Newcastle), a distance of seventy-eight miles, by nine o'clock that night. His companions, however, camped out, and did not reach Newcastle till the following morning. On the next day the party made Whatawhata, and slept oil ■/the ranges between that place and. Raglan. On the third clay the men reached Kawhia. The fourth day's journey was the worst, and they did not make much head way, the country being very broken, and the, ground soft and slippery. However, they made the north bank of the Mokau. As they came near the native Pahs the. Maoris met them with the usual cries of Welcome. In one place the natives, finding the men were without food, went into the bush and brought two live turkeys, which they cooked, and, together with potatoes,' made the men. partake of. They also supplied them with native grown tobacco.' At the Mokau, Stanton says they came across Te Kootr, whom he recognised. He says he was certain it was him from the tattoo marks on his forehead, and also from the loss of two fingers on the left hand. Te Kooti speaks very fair English, and was very chatty. He appeared ■pleased to see them. They had food given them here also, and on their departure TeKooti sent a Maori part of the way to show them the road. This guide, before leaving, was very particular in showing them the tracks they were to follow. Altogether, the treatment they received from the Natives was of almost friendlyv character, even to the passing them over the Aotea harbor free of charge. From the Mokau they pushed oh for the Waitara, but only reached Onaero, where they camped out for the night, thus doing, we may say, the journey in five days. On Wednesday Stanton made for town, reaching here about noon. Although to novices the journey may seem one of some danger and hardship, the men seemed not to think it anything out of the way. Stanton had a swag with him of between forty and fifty pouncls weight, having blankets, a pair of trowsers, four shirts, and a quantity of shoemaker's tools, as he was coming here to work at his trade. i

. The fact of these men coming through from Auckland, and their receiving such a friendly reception from the Natives, shows that the Native difficulty is at an an end, and,that for the future little,or no troubles need be apprehended. We believe that Mokau could be visited without danger, and that the tapu said to exist against the white man penetrating the Maori territory is now a thing of the past.—Taranaki Herald. :